Can you reserve a site at Vulture Peak Lower Trailhead?

No. Vulture Peak Lower Trailhead is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Vulture Peak Lower Trailhead

Facility · Arizona ·

Managed by the Bureau of Land Management

Hassayampa Field Office (Bureau of Land Management AZ) · Open Access

2,510 ft
Elevation

The Vulture Peak trailhead parking area is temporarily closed for construction.

Download a map showing a trail reroute. For more information, contact the Hassayampa Field Office.

Vulture Peak Trail, seven miles south of Wickenburg, Arizona, is a short but steep trail that takes hikers from the base of Vulture Peak (2,480 feet) to a saddle (3,420 feet) just below the summit in only two miles. From this point, experienced hikers can scramble up an extremely steep and narrow chute to the summit of Vulture Peak itself (3,660 feet). The final ascent is not maintained and should be attempted only by experienced and well-conditioned hikers.

Vulture Peak Trail meanders through classic Sonoran Desert landscapes, including dense stands of saguaro, ocotillo, cholla, and other cactus varieties; crosses wide desert washes; and offers dramatic scenic vistas of rugged desert mountain ranges and valleys in all directions.

Getting there

The Vulture Peak trailhead parking area is temporarily closed for construction. From Wickenburg, head west on Hwy 60/W Wickenburg Way for 2.5 miles. Turn left onto Vulture Mine Road. Download the trail reroute map for more information.

33.87750, -112.81763 · 33°52'39.0"N 112°49'3.5"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 104°F in Jul, down to 64°F in Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	65	68	75	82	91	101	104	102	96	86	74	64
Low °F	34	36	41	46	53	62	73	72	64	51	40	33
Precip in	1.2	1.6	1.0	0.3	0.2	0.1	1.1	2.0	1.0	0.5	0.8	1.1

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 8.3 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

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Common questions about Vulture Peak Lower Trailhead

Can you reserve a site at Vulture Peak Lower Trailhead?: No. Vulture Peak Lower Trailhead is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Camping near Vulture Peak Lower Trailhead

Horsethief Cabin 35.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Sophie's Flat Trailhead 11.4 mi · Facility
Boulders OHV Staging Area 21.7 mi · Facility
Baldy Mountain Recreational Shooting Site 27.8 mi · Facility
Church Camp Road Recreational Shooting Site 27.8 mi · Facility
Castle Creek Trailhead 27.8 mi · Facility
Saddleback Mountain Recreational Shooting Site 28.4 mi · Facility
Harquahala Byway Staging Area 29.3 mi · Facility
Harquahala Peak Observatory 30.7 mi · Facility
Harquahala Pack Trail Basecamp Trailhead 33.3 mi · Facility
West Valley Art Museum 33.7 mi · Facility
Crown King Area (Horsethief Basin) 35.9 mi · Facility

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Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.